--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All our Western thought is founded on…" description: "\"All our Western thought is founded on this repulsive pretence that pain is the proper price of any good thing.\" — Rebecca West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/rebecca-west-1248_good-thing_all-our-western-thought-is-founded-on-th_738759.jpg" --- # All our Western thought is founded on this repulsive… ![“All our Western thought is founded on this repulsive pretence that pain is the proper price of any good thing.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/rebecca-west-1248_good-thing_all-our-western-thought-is-founded-on-th_738759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/rebecca-west-1248_good-thing_all-our-western-thought-is-founded-on-th_738759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/743/rebecca-west-1248_good-thing_all-our-western-thought-is-founded-on-th_738759.jpg) > “All our Western thought is founded on this repulsive pretence that pain is the proper price of any good thing.” [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western philosophy mistakenly treats suffering as a necessary cost for any valuable achievement. **In simple terms:** Pain is not a required price for good things. Key Takeaway Question the link between pain and value. Themes philosophy ethics culture Mood critical analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - personal growth - social movements - educational curricula - mental health discussions Key Concepts existentialism value theory human experience Questions to Reflect On - Is pain always detrimental to progress? - Can value be achieved without suffering? A Different Perspective Some argue struggle builds character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Founded Repulsive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founded-repulsive-5772245/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Proper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-proper-5772244/) [Pretence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretence/) [Repulsive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repulsive/) [Repulsive Pretence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repulsive-pretence-5772243/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-thought-985801/) ## Related quotes > [There's a long tradition in Western thought that humans are not shackled by biology, whereas animals are pure instinct machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/there-s-a-long-tradition-in-western-thought-that-humans-are-not/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [If in Nietzsche's thinking the prior tradition of Western thought is gathered and completed in a decisive respect, then the confrontation with Nietzsche becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heidegger/if-in-nietzsche-s-thinking-the-prior-tradition-of-western-thought-is/) [Martin Heidegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heidegger/) > [The so-called Philosophy of India is even more blowsy and senseless than the metaphysics of the West. 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I often have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would-demand-that-anyone-bow-down/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Any authentic work of art must start an argument between the artist and his audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/any-authentic-work-of-art-must-start-an-argument-between-the-artist/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [... there has never been a period in history when there have been necessary killings which has not been instantly followed by a period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/there-has-never-been-a-period-in-history-when-there-have-been/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) [Explore all 264 Rebecca West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## More Good thing quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Certainly, it is. 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